Congress Slams DoJ Hard for Waste, Fraud & Abuse

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) isunder fire from legislators on Capitol Hill,who are accusing the mammoth federal entityof wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on duplicative and downright frivolousexpenditures.

In recent months, Attorney General Eric Holder has been voicinghis frustrations about budget cutsto the DoJ, warning that the sequestrationmandates—which took effect on March 1—would have atremendous impact on America’snational security.

“The Justice Department is going to lose 9% of its budget betweennow and September 30,” said Holder during a February 27interviewwith ABC News. “We’re going to lose $1.6B. There are not going to be as many FBI agents, BATFE agents, DEA agents, prosecutors who are going to be able to do their jobs. They’re going to be furloughed. They’re going to spend time out of their offices, not doing their jobs.”

While that remains to be seen, a recent audit of DoJ’s expenditures has revealed a pattern of wastefuland redundant spending that has diminished thedepartment’s ability to do its job effectively.

On April 10, the House Judiciary Subcommitteeon Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigationsheld the first in a series of hearings to review what they describe as DoJ’s “obvious waste,fraud and abuse.”

Of particular concern to the subcommittee was DoJ’s decision topurchase the Thompson prisoncomplex in Illinois during a timewhen the Bureau of Prisons already has four brand-new facilities sittingempty and waiting to be used.

“In addition to the initial $165M, this purchase continues tocost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars,” said CommitteeChairman Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). “It has been estimated that it will cost $6M a year to securethe empty prison and an additional $70Mbefore it is even operational. It just doesn’t add up.”

Other examples of DoJ waste include hundredsof millions of dollars for conferences, millions morespent on luxury private jets used by political appointees for personal reasons, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) unit thatspends $1.5M per year helping Hollywoodmake TV shows and movies and thousands of dollarson parties, limousine rides for non-departmental use and expensive foods and beverages, including $5.50canned sodas and $12 cups of coffee.

The subcommittee found that DoJ spent more than $100M on conferences in 2010 alone,$600K of which was paid out to event planners.And according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), both Holder and FBI director RobertMueller spent more than $11M in taxpayermoney on jets for non-mission trips between 2007 and 2011. Holder is said to have flown more than 28% of these flights for personal reasons. Anotheraudit reveals that one recipient of a DoJ grant from the Office of the Inspector General used $10K of the funds for a pizza party and plaques.

Another GAO report from July 2012 revealed that DoJ grants are often granted multiple times for thesame or similar purpose. For instance, according to a recent op-ed from Politico, “there are 56 programsthat provide funds to victim assistance and research;41 that provide technology for forensics; 33 that provide funds for juvenile justice; 23 that provide fundsfor enhanced policing; 21 that provide funds to assistcourts; 20 that provide funds for correction and reentry; and 17 that provide funds for communitycrime and prevention.”

Disturbing revelations about reckless spendingwithin each individual DoJ agency were also addressedduring the hearing. For example, in a letterfrom Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), it was revealed that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) made $521Min purchases over the course of just 18 months, 20% of which were potentially made without administrativeapproval. Some of those unauthorizedpurchases included musical instruments, pizza, lodging and gym club memberships. Furthermore, five ofseven training conferences organized by the USMSwere canceled at a cost of over $79K and two had fewer attendees than anticipated, resulting in over$10K in fees due to unbooked hotel rooms.

“Waste, duplication and excess have become the norm in Washington,” said subcommittee chairmanJim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.). “It is time to change the status quo, be responsible stewards of the taxpayers’money and stop working off the same negligent businessmodel that has resulted in mounting debt and trillion-dollar deficits. Using scare tactics like abolishingprograms that ensure Americans’ safety is notthe answer. Instead, our objective must be to rid the federal government of the inefficiencies plaguing recovery.”

On April 18, Holder went before an unfriendlyHouse appropriations panel hearing to argue in favorof DoJ’s $28B budget proposal. Once again,Holder complained that the sequestration cuts could jeopardize jobs and programs that are essential inkeeping Americans safe.

“Despite our best efforts to reduce expenses, I am very concerned about the department’s ability tokeep the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. MarshalsService and other key staff on the job—both this year and next,” said Holder.

Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va.), who chairs the appropriationssubcommittee, proved unsympathetic andplaced the burden of responsibility right back onHolder.

“Let’s be clear,” Wolf charged, “FBI agents, Bureau of Prisons corrections officers and many other departmentemployees could be furloughed, if not this year, perhaps next, for the lack of funds that were foolishly spent last year on Thomson [prison in Illinois].To have allowed this to happen is, in my opinion, bad judgment and poor leadership.”

Keith Johnson in an investigative journalist and host of the Revolt of the Plebs radio program.